News

Mix: The Beatles & EMI, PopXpress, Speck sale, iPod upgrade

By Charles Starrett ● Thursday, April 12, 2007

Apple Corps, the company representing The Beatles, has settled a $59 million dollar dispute with EMI over royalties. The suit represents another hurdle overcome in the process to take the band’s catalog online. “It seems like it is heading in that direction,” Jupiter analyst Mark Mulligan said. “The conversation has changed from an ‘if’ to a ‘when.’”

PopXpress, the London-based iPod-only store, has closed down due to lack of profitability. The store’s web site claims that the store is moving, but reports say the store is unlikely to re-open. PopXpress opened in February 2006, and was located minutes from Apple’s Regent Street retail location.

Speck Products is holding a “Speck-tacular Spring sale,” which offers a variety of cases for under $10 — including the iPod See-Thru (60GB), the nano ToughSkin (first-generation), and the ActiveSport case for fifth-generation iPods.

iPodMods is now offering a 100GB upgrade for all fifth-generation iPod models and the Microsoft Zune. The upgrade, which includes a larger backing for 30GB iPod models, also comes with an extended-life battery. The upgrade requires user installation and costs $300.

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Comments

1

I love the idea of idea of spending $300 to upgrade a single iPod by anywhere from 70 to 20 GB, when for $50 more you get a brand new, fully functioning 80 GB iPod.

It doesn’t even begin to rank on my chart of good ideas.

Posted by Code Monkey on April 12, 2007 at 1:28 PM (CDT)

1

agreed. And on top of that, you have to do it yourself. So after spending $550 (or $650) you are stuck with a little more space and a voided warranty. I really would like to know how many they sell.

Posted by chew on April 12, 2007 at 1:59 PM (CDT)

1

depending on when a new ipod is introduced, very very few.

Posted by bozz on April 12, 2007 at 2:15 PM (CDT)

1

Here’s a question—Just how many hurdles *are* there to the Beatles catalog appearing online?

Every week, there’s another announcement that claims to cross another hurdle in the process of releasing their catalog online.

I worry that a decade or so from now, Yoko Ono’s death will be followed with, “Ono’s death, while unfortunate, represents another hurdle overcome in the process to take the Beatles’ catalog online.”

Posted by BJ Nemeth on April 12, 2007 at 2:27 PM (CDT)

1

¿Why such a big fuss over the Beatles catalog online anyway? If you’re a Beatles fan over 18, you’ll most likely own the vinyl and/or CD versions, rendering online albums useless. If you’re a 15-year-old, you’ll borrow them from your older sister/brother/mom/dad/grandma/grandpa/uncle/great uncle, etc…
The only reason for putting Beatles online would be the unveiling of some useless “new” lost tapes/hidden treasures collection.

Posted by institutoaplaplac on April 12, 2007 at 11:59 PM (CDT)

1

I was all aboard the 100 GB upgrade until the price was mentioned. That’s just stupid. As others said, why pay that money when you could get another iPod. I’d rather pocket the money and wait for the real thing to come out.